Homemade art, fried pies and face painting filled the Opelika Municipal Park for the sixth annual Garden in the Park Festival hosted by Keep Opelika Beautiful.
The event was held March 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets were $2 for adults and $1 for children under 5.
The admissions and vendor fees from the festival are used to renovate the interior of the little red caboose, an actual train car donated by Northfolk Southern, at the Depot in downtown historic Opelika. Garden in the Park had more than 60 vendors, the most in the festival's history.
"All of the vendors produce handmade and natural items," said Tipi Miller, director of Keep Opelika Beautiful. "The majority of the vendors are locally based and sell items like jewelry, furniture, plants, paintings and clothes."
Live entertainment from Make Your Move Dance Studio, Opelika High Jazz Band, Jeter Singers, Carver Singers, Opelika High Drama Club and Opelika High Guitar Class performed throughout the day.
"There's so much for the children to do here," Miller said. "We have inflatable jumpers, train rides and a local magician, and balloon artist dRmagic, who many know from Niffer's and Chappy's Deli, will have a magic show."
Ann Voyles, member of the board of directors for Keep Opelika Beautiful, said Garden in the Park is its biggest event of the year and one of her favorites because the event supports school programs in addition to the caboose funds.
"We do this for several reasons," Miller said. "One, of course, is for the little red caboose fundraiser, but it's also a time for everybody to come together and see old friends. It's good for Opelika because it brings people to Opelika to show off our municipal heart that people wouldn't otherwise see."
Nonprofit organizations also set up in the festival for no fee, and educational demonstrations were provided by Master Gardeners, the Marine Police and Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve.
"I have never been to Garden in the Park, and I was really surprised with how big the turnout was," said Jessica Dewberry, intern for Keeping Opelika Beautiful. "It has always been an Opelika tradition, and it's a great way to influence manmade and natural arts and crafts."
The Envision Opelika Unity Run and the Opelika Lions Club Pancake Breakfast events were also coordinated with the Garden in the Park Festival.
The Unity Run focuses on strengthening teamwork for the citizens of the Opelika community by linking the runners together at the wrist. The runners had the option of participating in the 5K run at 8 a.m. or the one-mile at 9:30 a.m.
The Opelika Lions Club was in the Opelika Middle School cafeteria between 6 and 11 a.m. serving pancakes for a $5 admission fee. The club has become known for its work for supporting the blind with vision screening and guide dogs and also its work at concessions at Opelika High School events to purchase band uniforms for the school.
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